Year of the Voice: Berlin project collects lullabies in 24 languages

A Berlin project allows people to sing and share their lullabies – a successful idea so far, according to the initiators. "It brings people together; during the sessions, they sing to each other, immediately start talking, and encourage each other. It's wonderful to see," a spokesperson for the Berlin State Music Council told the German Press Agency.

Since the first recording session in February, lullabies have been collected in 24 languages, most recently at the Carnival of Cultures. These include languages ​​such as Afrikaans, Arabic, English, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish.

55 people have already participated. Demand is high. German has been the most frequently performed language so far, the spokesperson emphasized. So far, only four songs have been duplicated.

The collaborative project "Berlin Falls Asleep" is scheduled to run until the end of the year. The next lullaby session is planned for June 28 during the Long Night of Science. In addition, participants can now record themselves from home using an online tool.

The background to the campaign is the Year of the Voice. The state music councils had chosen the voice as the nationwide instrument of the year 2025. In Berlin, it will be showcased with concerts and workshops.

"Berlin Falls Asleep" aims to collect and archive the "rich treasure trove of lullabies," and make them accessible to the public at the Ethnological Museum. An online portal is also planned, making the songs available digitally. Workshops are planned to accompany the campaign.

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